PoC: The last of this three-part series is ready, with no more ownership claimed here than in any of its sister chapters!

Metal: Not to be the squeaky wheel, but it wouldn't kill you to take things to the next level. Amp this up with a few moonbeams, a glint of candlelight, and a smattering or three of amorous elbow grease. But remember, dark spots often get the least, due to yeast.

Silver: Hey now, what kind of message is that sending to our younger readers?

Metal: Simple: Kids, remember to explore all possibilities and potentialities, be they humble or fungal. And wear gloves…always.

PoC: Hmm…yes, thank you for that, erm…stirring message, Met. Ahem, right, as before: The content of this chapter can be considered a bit mature at points; mainly for mention of drugs and extremely strong language, along with a few 'physically romantic' scenes in the middle (NOT Lemon, or even Lime, but still). You've been warned.

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Sanitize

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Had it gotten a little hard to breathe in here, or was there just too much surprise to gulp back at once? Psh, hell if I know! Maybe it's that I was startled, or even a bit afraid? I mean yeah, sure he had gone to some lengths to find me, but I never expected Tails to be so serious about, I don't know, me I guess? And judging by that sour expression of his, I'd say he had more than a few bones to pick with lil' wonderful me.

Well whatever his beef was, I knew things were about to get complicated, especially since I couldn't get a read on what Tails was thinking, or if he even was at all. Heck, I wasn't sure of what I thought about all this. For me, discomfort was definitely a part of it, though I'm not going to lie, it was kind of difficult to focus with his eyes tracing me so curiously. That's partly why I didn't resist when he stretched out my arms; now examining them too with burning intensity. Put off but also unable to break his tight grip, I could only wonder and wait for whatever he had in store for me.

Abruptly, his eyes locked with mine again. Detained by his stiff, almost prosecuting gaze, I could only stare back as he proceeded to say "Erratic heart-rate, abnormally dilated pupils, accelerated respiration, stiff veins, pale under-skin. Good God, Fiona, what've you been doing to yourself?"

W-Wait, did he just…?

…

He did.

He…symptomatically accessed me, more like accused me, using a bunch of broad, catch-all terms that could mean anything, anything at all. Sorry but who did this punk think he was, bringing up my past issues? One stupid check-up didn't give him the right to make bullshit assumptions! Besides, what the hell did he care what I did with my own time and money? Not that I did those things anymore, I didn't! I grew up, I learned, I got better, I-I…did. S-So why couldn't he just LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE ABOUT IT? He-why-God! How dare that cozy-lived, soft-hearted, pompous piece of-! H-He had no right, no right criticize me! No. Right. At. ALL!

Sick and half-crazed from his leading remarks and intellectual trash-talking, I started rabidly struggled to free myself, but not before giving that prick a taste of his own verbal poison "'What've I been doing'? None of your damn business! You think you can just come up here and start ripping on me? Why don't you put me down, coward? Put me down so I can kick your puffy-tailed ass!" I coarsely threatened, but Tails still effortlessly held me back. Frustrated out my mind, I kept on baiting him "What? You scared of me, brat? Scared to take your beating like a man? Tch! Bet you're too limp in the sack to handle a REAL woman! Urgh! Let me go, dammit! LET ME GO!"

Pathetic, that's what I sounded like, a total pathetic mess as I did everything I could to provoke him. It only got worse when that jerk's stupid, puppy-dog eyes, softened up on me. I wasn't getting to him. No, instead I was getting 'treated' to his sympathy! Rich as his pretty little face and petty little feelings were, he should know, I hated that look. It's that same, unmistakably sad and compassionate look that begged me to not shut him out. So damn naïve, so ever-hopeful…

So like Sonic.

Being the smart girl I am, I wasn't about to fall for that schmoozing crap. Knowing my stuff, I promptly stabbed that mellowness of his with a nasty, defiant smile, as if to say "See, foxy? Your BS doesn't work on me, just like it didn't work for Sonic when he tried way back when. I told him then, and I'll tell you now: I chose to be bad, twisted, corrupt, the whole nine yards. You're still too vanilla for my tastes, the both of you; too sweet, too soft, too sickeningly sentimental! So guess what? You lose again! Now go get laid already you weepy-eyed mutant!" Game-set-match, a bit of that and I'd have this brat crying for the hills in no time. Yup, that's what I meant so that's what I'd say.

…

Or, that's what I wanted to say, but…couldn't. I tried, really I did, but not a single freaking syllable came out. No matter what lines he'd crossed; it didn't feel right, maybe because I didn't actually want to say any of that crap. I only wanted scare him off so he'd stop disarming me with those razor-edged blue diamonds he called eyes. Stuck with no words to defend myself, and a past full of guilt to boot, I found myself silently struggling with the self-defeating pressure he had me under.

Tails, meanwhile, upped the ante in my hesitation. What had been a vice-grip had now become a gentle touch encircling my personally abused hands and wrists. His gloved fingers held and rubbed each cold, damaged vessel with some serious TLC. Yet beyond the damn near melting warmth provided, there was also a new tingling in my own fingertips. Small at first, it soon grew more intoxicating and euphoric than any of those sweet poisons I had tried over the years. No longer dead, but hungry for more, my fingers nervously reacted by tying up with his, savoring this new sensation like a powerful addiction.

Shortly after, I backpedaled, releasing his grip and looking away in disgust. Dear Lord, what the hell was I thinking? This was TAILS! This was that same eleven-year-old kid that had crushed on me, a girl who had five years on him! Yeah great and so how messed up am I for actually enjoying his affection?

I had to keep on this inner rage against myself, condemning every new impulse as being warped and disturbed without excuse. For even if it wasn't totally wrong, which it was, I was a black-hearted witch who had used and abused Tails all his life. Unless…wait; was I some kind of dark, masochistic fetish of his? Mm…nah, he wouldn't stoop that low, but then what? What the hell made him so determined?

Working off what fading chutzpah I had left, I dared to shoot a glance his way. All my insults and cruelty aside, I took a good second to stop and think, before having myself a contrite moment (dangerous, I know): Right then I wanted to tell him that this was pointless, that I was too different from him to change now. Not to mention that I've got nothing to offer a hard-working, friendly, handsome fox destined for greatness. In the bigger picture, I'm like a black widow: I'll numb you up with my charm, then I'll milk you dry 'til there's nothing left but a rotting husk. Why couldn't he get that? How many times did he have to get burnt before he learned to stop playing with fire, especially mine?

Fighting off that all-pervasive touch of his, I finally found the determination to put my foot down "Tails, seriously, you don't know anything. You don't even know what you're getting into. Being here with me, right now, like this, it's going to land us both in deep sh-Ah!" I got cut off briefly when I felt his cold nose brush against my shoulder, probably by accident, knowing Tails. Regaining composure, I went on "L-Listen, I'm dead serious! You need to stay the hell out of my life! Look, I promise, just leave now, and I swear I'll never bother you or your friends again." Yeah, I'd make damn sure of that. If he'd leave me alone for an hour or so, I could get out of his life forever. Maybe…even out of my own, if I felt like it.

These destructive ideas were pretty tempting at the start, but that nosey fox wouldn't let me be. No, instead he let out a bitter laugh, as if he understood better than I supposed, and countered "You should've thought of that before you came back into my life. Besides, as you put it back then: 'You can't count on anyone'. That doesn't denote much trust, does it? So tell me, why should I trust you now?"

My muzzle contorted at that dug up memory, but I still managed throw back "Ugh, touché, fox-boy, but there's the catch: If you still can't trust me, why'd you follow me back? Sure, I get it, it's real cute that you want to fly in and save me from myself, but maybe I don't want to be saved! Did that ever cross your mind? Read my lips, fox-boy: I don't need your help! Get that through your delusional skull already!" Hell yeah, I think I said that part aloud! That's a relief. Really, I can't believe how long this guy had left me dumbstruck, but now it was on. Now I could finally get him and his idealistic crap out of my hair. I wasn't his 'problem' to fix, and he was going to get that memo soon enough.

Yet as if this guy had a bottomless bag of surprises, Tails leaned in close and hissed out "Who says I'm here…to help you?"

Caught off guard already, I was doubly stunned when I felt him press his nose roughly against my neck. As he greedily took in my scent, that intoxicating, dizzying sensation immediately returned, muddling up my thoughts all over again. My head was spinning faster than a hypersonic hedgehog on speed while I tried to concentrate. Did Tails, or Miles, bluntly admit to wanting carnal affection? What a…frightening, yet almost exhilarating thought. Caught up in his piercing stare again, I saw an aggressive, fanged grimace where an innocent smile once was. Okay regardless of his intent, he was scaring the piss out of me now. The Tails I knew was gentle, kind and cuddly, but this guy looked hungry, ravenous and plain deadly.

And it was at this inopportune moment that my original fears chose to resurface. It wasn't long after getting glared at by those two, raging blue infernos that I clearly remembered; I remembered how I had once shattered the soul behind those same crystalline eyes. I recalled slapping his face red with a sharp backhand, his hot tears spilling out all the while. With that scene fresh in my mind, I started fidgeting in fear, contemplating that maybe his evil double would've been safer to be trapped in a room with, not mention by the wrists. I knew I had no way to defend myself in this position, so maybe…maybe the past had finally caught up with me. In the next few minutes, I'd be paying dearly for carving his younger self's heart out.

Seeing as how he had every right to take advantage of, or hurt, me in the way I hurt him and his big brother figure, I was straight up pale-faced and terrified. I saw him getting closer and closer until, for the first time, real tears started coming out of my own icy blue irises. It got so bad that I couldn't meet that damning glare of his anymore; I just let my lids shut and ears fold back, hoping it'd be over quick. Vulnerability from all the guilt I had accumulated over the years came crashing in as my own selfish weepiness kicked up again. Weak as it was, I found myself wishing I could just cover my face and fall over dead. I couldn't deal with the humiliation and pain any longer.

Melodramatic shit kept surging on and on inside me with no signs of stopping. And just when I thought I couldn't take one more nail in my coffin, I heard him say "Fiona, look at me." The demand was as harsh and unfeeling as I'd expected.

Even so, I couldn't do it. I couldn't find it in me to face him, even when he grabbed my chin and pressed his forehead against mine. Again, I heard him shout "Look at me!" God, just stop it already! Couldn't he see that he was asking too much? But…knowing he probably didn't care, or at least wouldn't give up until I complied, I strained to do what he wanted. My vision got all blurry again when we came nose to nose. His eyes were stone cold, so eerily void of empathy. Part of me quietly begged for the old, happy Tails to come back; anything to avoid facing this monster, anything at all.

Broken down and beaten, my trampled-on pride came back to let out a caustic growl, a would-be tough image kind of wrecked by all my tear stains. He merely smiled cruelly at my attempt, and said "Yeah, I cried that day too. Back then, I thought if I poured my heart out to you and told you how I felt, you'd do the right thing; you'd make the right choice and come back to us. I just…I wanted you to see the good I saw in you, for yourself." I saw his passionate gaze turn thoughtful for a second, only to quickly stiffen again as he continued "But you repaid my plea with a slap. You hurt me, betrayed Sonic, and ruined your own life all in one careless choice."

Tails' tone suddenly got ten shades darker when he confessed "So, you want to know why I'm really here? Simple, I'm here to give you exactly what you deserve." Placing his hand roughly on my cheek, I braced for the incoming pain, that petty vengeance that always satisfies a man's cowardly ego. No doubt I'd hate him for it, and for whatever else he did next, but I guess it was fair, not to mention typical and expected in a life like mine.

Reacting more than thinking, I opened my mouth to make one last biting comment to satisfy myself…only to have him gracefully, but forcefully, catch my hateful words up in a loving kiss.

Wait, why would he...?

I was stunned beyond stunned and then some, yet any question or complaint in my head was put down fairly fast when he pulled me into his embrace. By forgetting to worry or resist for all but a split second, I let myself be driven crazy by these chastely passionate moves of his. Though unable to make sense of much yet, the big silver-lining was, I now knew for sure that this guy was the same sweet-hearted 'Tails' deep down. He wasn't getting nasty or trying anything dirty. No, like a true expert, this clever fox had me nearly fainting while keeping his timely strokes limited to my arms, neck, and shoulder blades. Heh, so cunning with words, but such a perfect gentleman after all.

To be fair, his lips showed a lot less restraint, not that I minded. For unless I was too dizzy to think right, I loved the way his childish intentions complemented his more adult desires perfectly. Call me sappy, but he somehow fed my lightest and darkest needs simultaneously, breathing what felt like pure life into me with each freshly applied kiss. Being brittle from imagining he had something much, much worse in mind, I was so…overwhelmed. It got to the point that when he rubbed my cheek and whispered "I've missed you, Fi." I lost my cool and started sobbing like a newborn kit.

But I cut myself a break because…for the first time in my life, I felt completely forgiven and genuinely…loved.

Now it's not like we started climbing all over each other. No, in fact, I had to step back and take a good long look at Miles to make sure this wasn't some kind of screwed up dream. Not that I wanted it to be, but the whole thing did feel about as 'realistic' as a crummy soap opera. Nothing ever happened this way, not to people like me at least. There were no storybook endings for us, the big-time losers of society. Of course, it had to be that stupidly cheery grin of his that gave me my much-needed dose of reassurance. At least one thing was dead certain now: He really had come all this way…

…just to snake in a kiss after lecturing me to tears.

I mentally laughed so hard at our circumstances that a real smile started pulling at my cheeks. Not a snobby, sassy, slutty smirk like I usually wore. And to think, I never knew how good an awkward, shy smile could feel, but the feeling only got better when I saw his hopelessly cute face still beaming back at me. No lie, this whole thing had been a really shitty ordeal, but now I could safely say that Miles had made me truly happy. Well…maybe I was pushing my luck with that, since I had no idea what he had in mind after this, and I sure as heck knew this 'meeting' of ours was going to jack up our futures something fierce.

Still a little woozy from everything that'd gone down; I vaguely wondered if his outlook was as doubtful as mine, but I guess I wouldn't know unless he wanted me to. One thing's for sure, something big was churning in that sly devil's head. Now half the 'fun' would be waiting to find out what it was, and where it would lead us.

L

*Tails' PoV*

L

Drawing a massive blank, I tried to put on my thoughtful face to hide how utterly lost I was.

I probably had over a thousand things on my mind at once, but I couldn't seem to remember even one of them. Taking things step by step, I tried to riddle out how I had gone from sleeping through a day of classes to kissing my old flame in her apartment. To say I planned on any of this, or that I fully condoned my recent behavior, would be a huge pair of lies. Hmm…okay looking at the beautiful girl in my arms smiling at me; I can't say I regret everything that happened here. In all frankness, I could picture lots of narrow-minded people passing Fiona by for her personal faults or slightly tortured body (and most would be hypocrites, if they did), but when I bothered to look at myself, seeing all the opportunities I've wasted and mistakes I've made, I could hardly hold the past against her. What had happened to us up until now didn't make her worse or me better; different circumstances had made us, just that, different.

Backing up a bit, I might've gone too far when I let myself get out of control. In my defense, she wasn't just some random fling of mine when I was a kid. I knew she was a good person even then; she just couldn't see it for herself. In turn, she ended up selling herself short to scum like Scourge, but to repeat myself, I've done plenty of similarly stupid things in my time (I remember there was this Mina girl…nah, I won't go into that). That aside, there was no way I could fully explain or justify why I did what I did, except for that…I wanted to prove something to her. I wanted to prove to her that she was worthy of being loved for real, and not just for her appearance or other incidental traits.

Besides, the bigger truth was that…I really needed her. After Fiona left the first time, I had looked and looked for a girl who could strike that same cord with me; who could fill in my missing half the way this vixen effortlessly could, but I never found even one. I also tried telling myself that memories of Fiona would eventually pass, just like Sonic always said they would. That she would stop mattering to me once I grew up.

Looks like…even Sonic isn't right about everything.

Smiling like the happiest fool in the world, I took a prolonged look at the girl who had haunted my dreams for the past three years or so. For a grim moment, I feared nothing had changed, and that I had been tricked into thinking I could reach her…again. I had put my heart at risk for another, highly possible, breaking, one that I might not recover from. I had no certainty on my side, no advice that would help. I simply had to put my nose down and face the future in spite of my fears.

L

*Some time later*

L

It didn't occur to me until several days after that Fiona was just as afraid as I was. And for good reason, as you can be sure that many a debacle followed us as a result of my actions.

Naturally, no one was very supportive of her, or rather us, at least not at first. To start the list off, Amy jumped right in and threatened to, quote "Club the conniving bitch's brains out if she tried anything", while Knuckles decided to rough me up for not thinking things through. Shadow had one of those long talks with me about the choices he'd made, and their subsequent consequences (not surprisingly, his words were among the more helpful). Rouge had…rather disturbing things to say about keeping my new partner 'entertained', and agreed to give me pointers if I ever needed them (to which I heartily refused). After some convincing, Team Chaotix reluctantly offered their protection against any possible gang retaliation, to which I think Espio still begrudges me for ("Dishonorable work" he called it). Cream…remarkably took the news quite well. She firmly stated that she trusted my judgment, and that she would do her best to accept anyone I valued enough to call friend. I later learned from Vanilla that she actually cried her eyes out when she first heard about Fiona and me.

Yes…as I feared most, Sonic had the poorest reaction of them all. Upon seeing Fiona, he was shoved into a violent, defense/offensive posture, the likes of which I've never seen before, until I personally vouched for her in a somewhat brutal, twenty-minute shout-fest. Initially, he looked as though he was going to make road-kill out of the both of us (the details about his stolen phone didn't make things easier), but he quickly settled on going for a run. It must've been one heck of a 'run', since I didn't see him again for the next three weeks. Apparently, I had frustrated him enough to merit several trips around the globe worth of venting. When he did come back, nothing was completely settled, but I did eventually convince him to shake hands with her, though I caught Fiona wincing in pain afterwards. The most hurtful part is I believe he still hasn't fully accepted my choices, as he's often quick to remind me to "Watch my back" around her.

Nonetheless, I value his words of wisdom, for it's true that a relationship can't work without trust between both parties. I know that's been the hardest obstacle for the two of us to overcome. Up to today, I've lost count of how many times we've accused each other of lying, cheating, and countless other subjects of conflict. Okay yes, it's been frankly rough as hell, maybe worse sometimes. Yet for all the bad days, an ever-growing number of them are spent remembering how important we are to each other, how, together, we make each other complete.

"The two will become one flesh." That's a saying I've often repeated to myself for encouragement. I remember reading that somewhere before, and though I've never been one for philosophy, that's exactly how I've felt every day past our reunion. Since then, I've been cleansed of all my immobilizing fear, debilitating pain, and infectious desire. True, having her come back into my life was like undergoing open-heart surgery, a slow and potentially fatal process, but afterwards, I couldn't deny how whole I felt. All I wanted now was for both of us to remain together, forever if possible.

For where my lust had been a lethal infection, her tough, but unconditional love had become…

My own personal miracle.

*L*

Say it once tell me twice, are you certain I'm alright?

Just a sign to remind me tomorrow's worth the fight.

Ever changing the storyline that keeps me alive.

So make a wish and say,

Give me life, give me love, scarlet angel from above.

Not so low, not so high, keep it perfectly disguised.

Ever changing, the storyline that keeps me alive.

My Mona Lisa's making me smile,

Right before my eyes!

Take another look, take a look around.

It's you and me it's here and now.

As you sparkle in the sky I'll catch you while I can.

'Cause all we are is all I am.

I just want you to see, what I've always believed.

You are…the miracle in me.

*L*

These are the moments you can't pass by.

Let's turn the water to wine, one more time!

Take another look, take a look around.

It's you and me it's here and now.

As you sparkle in the sky, I'll catch you while I can.

'Cause all we are is all I am.

I just want you to see, what I've always believed.

You are…the miracle in me.

…

The miracle in me!

*L*

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The End

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That was…hmm you know what? No comments for this one. Except that PenFullofChaos819 takes no credit for the lyrics owed to Shinedown's "Miracle". If this overall fic sucks, it sucks, but I don't want to hear any flaming about the pairing, setting, or anything general (flames are NOT welcome). If you've got something constructive to say, then feel free. I don't really know what to think of this fic, so any clear-sighted comments are welcome, even if they are negative in nature. I also may consider adding an alternative ending later. I hope someone appreciates this to some extent.

Until next time.